Bargin tcas alert

About a week ago I got a small collision prevention device called
trafficscope micro. It seems to work really well in areas of
congested airspace, and places I most frequent. It is not cheap
($200) but it works well for the intended purpose. The best price I
got was from talking to my local retail
http://www.flightessentials.net/inde...ROD&ProdID=746

I bought this after many frustrated incedents with our ATC system.
There have been numerous time where I was only one of the few aircraft
flying VFR at 1:00 AM in the morning dedicated to perhaps a single ATC
sector, and they failed to alert me to other approaching IFR traffic.
Most of the time I fly I often compete with incoming cargo flights
ranging from C-310 aircraft to Merlin turbo-props. None of these
aircraft have TCAS and are flying as blind as I am. I don't
understand how the FAA allows such a lapse in general aviation safety,
just because the hours we fly are o-dark'30. I understand that they
need to scale down their staff at night, but there is no excuse for
the lack of assitance I often get. However, I hear people get sports
updates freduently.

Dave,

a small collision prevention device called
trafficscope micro. It seems to work really well in areas of
congested airspace, and places I most frequent. It is not cheap
($200) but it works well for the intended purpos


No voice warnings...

--
Thomas Borchert (EDDH)

True. There is no "alert" per se, but it does give an indication as to
the nearest aircraft around me. I think for the money it is a good
heads-up warning that only helps to aid me in knowing when to search
more, and when to relax and enjoy flying more.


Thomas Borchert wrote in message ...
Dave,

a small collision prevention device called
trafficscope micro. It seems to work really well in areas of
congested airspace, and places I most frequent. It is not cheap
($200) but it works well for the intended purpos


No voice warnings...

Dave,

True. There is no "alert" per se, but it does give an indication as to
the nearest aircraft around me


Let's see: It's giving you a visual indication. While checking whether
that comes on, it will keep you from looking outside where the traffic
is - both traffic with an active transponder and that without one. Seems
to me that the net result is a loss of total time spent scanning for
traffic - for all of 200 bucks.

And yes, units with an aural warning are different in that very respect.

--
Thomas Borchert (EDDH)

"Thomas Borchert" wrote in message
...
Dave,

True. There is no "alert" per se, but it does give an indication as to
the nearest aircraft around me


Let's see: It's giving you a visual indication. While checking whether
that comes on, it will keep you from looking outside where the traffic
is - both traffic with an active transponder and that without one. Seems
to me that the net result is a loss of total time spent scanning for
traffic - for all of 200 bucks.

And if our intrepid pilot is not bothering to look out the window, what
makes you think that he/she will bother looking at the display on the little
TCAS box? It seems to me that adding an audable alert to that little gizmo
would be cheap...and necessary.

Vaughn


And yes, units with an aural warning are different in that very respect.

--
Thomas Borchert (EDDH)

I've been using my Micro since I got it and have never had a problem
seeing the bright green, yellow and red lights, even in the sun. It's
mounted on my dash where I don't have to take my eyes away from
scanning to see it. Sure, something over my headset would be since,
but for $249 (what I paid for it), I can't complain.

I've noticed in the many posts by Thomas Borchert that he sells the
Monroy. Perhaps there's a bias at work here? How much is the Monroy
compared to the Micro, I wonder...

T. Johnson

"Vaughn" wrote in message ...
"Thomas Borchert" wrote in message
...
Dave,

True. There is no "alert" per se, but it does give an indication as to
the nearest aircraft around me


Let's see: It's giving you a visual indication. While checking whether
that comes on, it will keep you from looking outside where the traffic
is - both traffic with an active transponder and that without one. Seems
to me that the net result is a loss of total time spent scanning for
traffic - for all of 200 bucks.

And if our intrepid pilot is not bothering to look out the window, what
makes you think that he/she will bother looking at the display on the little
TCAS box? It seems to me that adding an audable alert to that little gizmo
would be cheap...and necessary.

Vaughn


And yes, units with an aural warning are different in that very respect.

--
Thomas Borchert (EDDH)

Vaughn,

It seems to me that adding an audable alert to that little gizmo
would be cheap...and necessary.


Well, looking at the market, it's at least several hundred dollars
more. But from having usedg such a device, it is well worth the money,
IMHO.
--
Thomas Borchert (EDDH)

Wow... with all the childish bickering going on here, its a wonder
anything useful comes out of these discussions. Grow up, people! I
usually dont get into these, but the name-calling was just getting too
much, so here's my 2-cents worth:

I purchased a Micro for my 152. I have had some experience with these
products, having installed a Monroy 200, then a 300 in my Duchess. What
a piece of junk (my opinion). Erroneous altitudes and numbers all over
the place. I sent it back and got a Trafficscope VRX. I ended up
installing the VRX and I am very impressed with how accurate it (seems)
to be. Misses a few planes once in a while, but not enough to keep me
from using it. Lesson learned... if theres a choice between to products
that do the same thing, the cheaper one is usually less reliable.

The Micro doesnt give altitude, but for the $296 I paid for it ($289 +
$7 shipping), I wouldnt expect it to. An audio alert would be an
interestng add-on, but not really needed since it sits right in front
of my nose! Thats bunk if you're looking outside and think you cant see
10 bright LEDs... they really grab your attention. But then, Ive
actually used the product. The unit functions similarly to the VRX with
respect to reliability... if it lights up, I can usually count on
seeing an aircraft. Wish I knew the altitude, but I guess thats what
the more expensive unit is for.

Anyway, nice job, Surecheck. I will recommend these to whoever asks
(and even those that dont). Just wish I could display the traffic info
on my Garmin 430.

Jim Utic

Thomas Borchert wrote:
Dave,

True. There is no "alert" per se, but it does give an indication as
to
the nearest aircraft around me


Let's see: It's giving you a visual indication. While checking
whether
that comes on, it will keep you from looking outside where the
traffic
is - both traffic with an active transponder and that without one.
Seems
to me that the net result is a loss of total time spent scanning for
traffic - for all of 200 bucks.

And yes, units with an aural warning are different in that very
respect.

--
Thomas Borchert (EDDH)

"Jim Utic" wrote:
...but the name-calling was just getting too
much, so here's my 2-cents worth:
...
I have had some experience with these
products, having installed a Monroy 200, then a 300 in my Duchess.
What
a piece of junk (my opinion). Erroneous altitudes and numbers all
over
the place.

I had a Monroy 200, now a 300. There are much less frequent anomalies
than with the 200, and mine works very well. I will grant that some
competing units may work as well or better. But I bought it before
the latest competition came out, and I have no buyer's remorse.

Fred F.